Tuesday, September 30, 2014

This isn't the setting or layout for the blocks, I just wanted you to see all the blocks together through month 10.

Thank you for joining this journey, if you are stitching or reading along.

Month ten is ready. Plenty of surprise blocks left. We tried to bundle the monthly sets with at least one surprise block.

This evening I was speculating how Matilda felt when she saw the quilt completed.

Applique bands on the pineapple block

The three Noah and Matilda blocks for month ten include a potted cactus, a Mexican rose and a pineapple.

In Matilda's colonial America, pineapples were both symbolic (hospitality), as well as a food delicacy. Having a pineapple on her quilt and home may have been a rarity. But then, the cactus isn't a common 1850's applique pattern either.

My pineapple applique bands

In the 1850's most entertaining was done in homes. Creative food displays were popular for formal dinners. Pineapples are visually attractive in a centerpiece, they were rare and expensive - if available at all in 1850. The pineapples imported from the Caribbean Islands were candied chunk, glazed and packed in sugar. An actual whole fruit was even harder to obtain. They did show up in markets (delivered on the fastest ships) in larges cities like Boston, Philadelphia and Williamsburg.

Perhaps botanical prints were the inspiration for the cactus blocks.

This print has many similarities to Matilda's blocks.

Matilda's Cactus Flower

This is one of Matilda's yellow flowers - the quilting adds beautiful texture next to the yellow wave print.

You can see the hand piecing of the block seams.

I love her green dot print, but was unable to find one I liked.

My Cactus Flower

This is one of my yellow flowers.
I got as close as I could to a stripe/wavy print.

I think any medium yellow would work, even a solid. I chose fabrics in the colors the quilt would have been, not the way it is today - faded.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

I recently added to my collection of thread cabinets. This one varies from my others. It is a two drawer, shelf with eight thread guides. It also has bone finials. Even though the original pin cushion is missing, it is still a great piece.

I always wonder who originally owned it? How did she use it?

Now I have some answers with this piece.

I have some family history!

Ann gifted the box to her daughter

It was owned By Constance (keeping the last name private).

She was born in 1896 in Boston MA.

Throughout her life everyone called her Christine, except her grandchildren - who called her Mimi.

The box was a gift from her mother, Ann. Ann is pictured on the right.

Ann had six children: Aida, Arthur, Gerard, Marjorie Roger and Christine.Christine is the youngest - with the white bow on her head. Roger is next to her in a sailor style outfit.

Constance (Christine) and Roger

Christine and Roger were close. What fun, giggling together on the lawn.They shared many laughs as children. Little did they know a war would someday separate them.At some point in her childhood Christine stitched a sampler, still owned by the family.

Ann's son Roger was called Uncle Buzzy - he was a WWI Flying Ace.Roger spent time in a German POW Camp in Landau Germany.Here, he is pictured second from the left (white collar, part in the center of his hair).Imagine their joy when he came home!

Christine Married Edmond and had three children. Only one, Patricia survived to adulthood.This is Christine and her daughter Patricia in 1926.Wonderful isn't it?I don't have the year the thread cabinet was given by Ann to Christine. Perhaps it was a wedding gift?The box was gifted by Ann to Christine. Christine later passed it to Patricia. Patricia passed it to one of her daughters. It has since come to me (not family) and I will keep the family history with the box. The family permitted me to share this story with you.

These are a few of Christine's (Mimi's) grandchildren having fun at her summer home in Connecticut.What a party!

With those big smiles I can imagine that summers with Mimi were filled with fun parties.

drawers and shelf out

How was the box used?Ann and Christine (Mimi) were ladies, with the means enabling them to not HAVE to sew. They stored basics in the box. Their maids did the majority of the sewing and mending for the household.The cabinet is in very good condition. However, the pin cushion was worn out and removed before it came to me.

Top level of cabinet

Patricia, Christine's daughter made needlepoint pillows. The wools were to bulky for the dainty drawers of this thread cabinet. It was displayed in their home with empty drawers.Here, with the lid off you can see a small spool of thread, the end of the thread extends through the bone eyelet. With the lid replaced, the thread can be used, yet remain hidden.

Closeup of the bone finial - there are 12 total on this cabinet.They about 3/4" tall. The grooves were painted with thin black lines. I hope you enjoyed the story that came with the cabinet. Maybe one day we can see a picture of the sampler Mimi stitched. I treasure this cabinet!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

In anticipation of a special graduation next year, I started this quilt. I plan to hand quilt this project, it is machine pieced.

This isn't the final arrangement - just showing you the blocks I have done so far. I am trying to keep the fabrics on the masculine side. As you can see there are some solid blocks that require no piecing. I'm estimating about 100 blocks so I am about 1/10th of a way there. Surely there will be some rejects.

I've also selected some prints with special meaning. Conversational prints with a bike and a turtle. One print from dad's shirt so I will need to come up with something from me too.

Thomas Taylor (1829-1862) born in Scott County Kentucky.
Noted as moving with his father Noah, from Scott County KY to Morgan County IL in 1835. No mention of Matilda, Although Matilda's daughter Angeline was possibly born in Morgan County Illinois.
Still exploring his possible service in the Civil War

Angeline (Anna) 1830 - 1904 born in Morgan County Illinois.
Married Thomas J Smith (1825-1862) and had two children
Samuel Wesley (1857-1938)
Luelle (1857-1942)

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